S.J. Latinos weigh in on immigration reform efforts

Is this the moment when immigration reform - an off-and-on national debate for decades - finally becomes reality?

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By Kevin Parrish

recordnet.com

By Kevin Parrish

Posted Jan. 30, 2013 at 12:01 AM

By Kevin Parrish

Posted Jan. 30, 2013 at 12:01 AM

» Social News

Is this the moment when immigration reform - an off-and-on national debate for decades - finally becomes reality?

It depends on who you ask.

"We'll see," says Steve Gutierrez, a former member of the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors. "I appreciate the fact that somebody has had the guts to put a recommendation on the table.

"We'll see if there will be enough members of Congress to carry it through."

On Tuesday, President Barack Obama introduced his plan to put millions of undocumented immigrants on a clear path to citizenship, just one day after a bipartisan plan emerged from the Senate.

Yolanda Flores, the first president of Comerciantes Unidos, a Stockton-based association of Latino merchants, is more optimistic either plan might come to fruition.

"I think this is going to happen," she said, "because a lot of people are talking about it, both Republicans and Democrats. They have to do it now that there are so many Hispanic voters, and they make a difference."

Flores, who owns Yolanda's Tax Service in downtown Stockton, came illegally to the United States when she was 9 years old. She became a citizen in 1986 when President Ronald Reagan signed the Immigration Reform and Control Act, amnesty legislation that granted legal status to about 3 million immigrants. She has been in Stockton since 1976.

"I'm happy for a lot of people who deserve this," Flores said, "especially families with kids born here and going to school here. From that point of view, I'm very happy because it means we'll stop breaking up families."

Flores said tightening border security was a good thing but didn't feel it would be completely successful. "It may just cost more."

Tony Nuņez, who owns a business in downtown Lodi, also came to the United States illegally - from Cuba. He was eight months old.

Nuņez is proud that Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., is helping to lead the charge for immigration reform.

"From what I've been hearing, he's extremely conservative, and they love him in Florida," Nuņez said. "My dad loves him. I love his beliefs."

Nuņez, born in Havana, first lived in New York City with his family, and then Miami. He became a U.S. citizen when he wanted to join the Marine Corps, and his application was expedited.

"The Mexicans have been in California since the days of the Old West," Nuņez said. "We definitely should make it possible to apply to become U.S. citizens, especially those hard-working Mexicans, not felons of any kind."

Nuņez said it is important for illegal immigrants to become legal, pay taxes and "help the country get back on its feet."

He is the owner/operator of Tony Nuņez MMA and Kickboxing Academy on Sacramento Street.

Gutierrez served District 1 on the Board of Supervisors for eight years. He left office in 2008 because of term limits. He supports reform but added a cautionary word.

"It's the ongoing dilemma," he said. "It won't change overnight. It's the issue du jour. I'm not going to get too excited toward an issue that is so problematic. How can you not be cynical - immigration reform has been kicked around so often?

"As long as we've done everything we can to ensure that they are here to work. We enjoy benefits living in this wonderful country, but they have to contribute.

"It can't be free. What about having the people applying help pay for the cost of processing?"

Gutierrez directs a program at Nightingale Charter School - ("Apantli," a Mayan word for bridge) - that is geared toward turning young people away from gangs and street violence.